The Flemish artist Frans Francken the Younger is known primarily for his paintings of biblical, mythological, and historical subjects. At the same time, he popularized paintings of everyday scenes. Francken the Younger also painted trompe l’oeil paintings and depicted kunstkameras – rooms with collections of works of art, ancient artifacts, shells, and minerals. One of his works, painted in 1619, is called “Kunstkamera” (Een kunstkamer). In the 16th–17th centuries, kunstkameras were a sign of wealth and education. At first, such collections were collected by aristocrats, but over time, this hobby spread to wealthy merchants. More and more exotic goods were brought from Asia and America to Europe.
The artist depicted the kunstkamera as a still life. On the left is an open sketchbook, according to one version, this is a collection of sketches left to his son by the artist Frans Francken the Elder. Among the works on the wall you can see works by Gillis Mostaert, Jan Brueghel the Elder, Jos de Momper and others.
The flowers in the vase on the right are an idealized bouquet, since the tulips and roses of the presented varieties bloom at different times. Behind the vase is a fragment of an allegorical painting: two people with donkey heads swing sticks at a book and a celestial globe - the composition symbolizes the ignorance of the masses. On the table and box lie exotic shells from the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Roman denarii, several tetradrachms, and coins of Albert and Isabella are also scattered here. The commemorative bronze medal depicts the profiles of Henry IV and Maria de Medici, and the silver medal probably has a portrait of Pope Clement VII.
The painting is on display at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp (Belgium). The museum acquired it in 1903 from art dealer Joseph Hallin.
Source:
kmska.be
